By Ann donnelly

This month, husband and wife Ashley and Derek Heald celebrated the opening of their nutrition club, juice, and smoothie bar, Peak Nutrition, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held by the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce on November 3, 2023.

Peak Nutrition offers vitamin-packed, energizing teas, healthy protein shakes, and iced coffees in the Broad Street Shopping Center in Glens Falls. Many of these drinks are popular with fitness enthusiasts for pre-, during- & post-workout needs, but also appeal to a wide range of other customers looking for a healthy, fresh drink. “We do kids’ drinks as well,” says Ashley Heald. “They are not caffeinated and contain some protein. I’ve got two picky eaters, so wherever I can sneak in some protein is always good.”

“We host monthly body transformation challenges and help people achieve their health and wellness goals, whatever they may be,” says Ashley Heald. They have held a local vendors showcase and plan to hold pop-up workouts.

“I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for six years and was looking for work I could do and still have enough time for the boys. I was an athlete, running track and field in school, but I always hated the chalky taste of protein shakes. Derek had me taste one of these shakes, and I said, ‘Okay, what have I got to do.’” 

Glens Falls Family Health, Hudson Headwaters Health Network’s 22nd brick-and-mortar health center, is now open. Located at 38 Larose Street, Glens Falls Family Health has 18 exam rooms and a floor plan designed to support an integrated team care model with nurses, patient service assistants, behavioral health specialists, care managers, resident physicians, advanced practice providers and physicians working together. The center is also equipped with on-site lab services operated by Glens Falls Hospital.

 “The establishment of Glens Falls Family Health has been a longtime community effort, with many details thoughtfully developed to improve health outcomes and patient experiences for years to come,” said Hudson Headwaters CEO Tucker Slingerland, M.D. “As a nonprofit, Federally Qualified Health Center, Glens Falls Family Health expands access for all in our community, regardless of income or insurance. Thank you to our hard-working staff for making this milestone possible and for the support of our regional partners who share our vision of sustainable health care for everyone.”

The building was also designed with medical residents in mind and serves as a continuity site for residents physicians of the new Saratoga Hospital Family Medicine Residency, a collaboration with Saratoga Hospital and Albany Medical Center. The inaugural class started in July 2023 and have traveled to Glens Falls from around the world.

By Susan Elise Campbell

A person never knows when first aid training may be needed, but Clark Hayward, founder of Adirondack Wilderness Medicine, believes if they are an hour or more away from a hospital, his wilderness first aid course may not only come in handy, but save a life.

“It’s amazing that new students taking the course are surprised how much can go wrong out on a hike or ski trip,” said Hayward. “We are here locally to train anyone who does things outdoors, either sports or hunting or in their line of work.”

The basic two-day, 16-hour training encompasses everything a standard first-aid course includes along with the practical skills to prevent such conditions as hypothermia or heat stroke, he said. 

“The difference between wilderness first aid and standard first aid is the latter assumes an ambulance will arrive in about 15 minutes,” said Hayward. 

With wilderness first aid, that help “may not arrive for hours or even days,” during which time someone has to manage the situation medically as well as provide food and water, he said.

The course curriculum Hayward follows is designed by SOLO, the international leader in wilderness education founded in 1976 and the originator of wilderness medicine in the U.S. Hayward is a licensee of the SOLO program, he said.

By Christine Graf

As one of more than 2,700 YMCA’s throughout the United States, the Family YMCA of the Glens Falls Area is committed to providing health and wellness opportunities to the local community.

“The YMCA is so expansive in the offerings for health and wellness,” said Executive Director Lauren Cygan. “It’s really the foundation on what the organization is built to serve. When you think of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, it all comes together at the Y.  That’s why we have everything from aquatics and gymnastics to Silver Sneakers.”

Glens Falls members have access to one of the approximately 75 group exercise classes that are offered each week. These classes take place in the aquatics center, the cycle studio, or in one of the facility’s two fitness studios.

The majority of fitness classes are offered on a first come first served basis, but several of the most popular aquatic fitness classes require registration. Online registration is not available, and members can register for classes upon arrival at the YMCA. This is done to prevent no-shows.

“The aquatic fitness classes fill up incredibly quickly,” said Cygan. “Our older adult population is absolutely booming, and many of our seated classes—chair yoga and chair Zumba—also fill up very quickly.”

The Family YMCA of the Glens Falls Area is certified to teach the extremely popular Les Mills classes–Body Pump, Body Combat, and Body Step. They also offer mind/body classes including yin yoga, vinyasa, and power yoga. Personal and small group training with certified personal trainers are also available, and all new members are entitled to receive a free 30 minute Healthy Start session in the wellness center.